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LEVI, Finland -- It took Austrias Marcel Hirscher just two races to get back to where he finished each of the past five seasons -- on top of the mens World Cup overall standings.Hirscher overcame an illness on the eve of the slalom opener on Sunday to lead teammate Michael Matt for an Austrian 1-2 finish.The five-time overall champion finished a huge 1.30 seconds ahead of Matt to clinch his 40th career win. It was the first Austrian 1-2 finish in a World Cup slalom since Hirscher beat Michael Matts older brother, Mario, at the same venue three years ago.Manfred Moelgg of Italy was 1.31 seconds back in third for his first podium finish in nearly three years, while Germanys Felix Neureuther came another 0.10 further behind in fourth.Physically it went very well. I have no pains. Yesterday it was really bad but this morning I knew it would work out, said Hirscher, who suffered from an inflammation of the middle ear.He skipped Saturdays training and decided only in the morning hours before the race to start. He headed back to his hotel for treatment immediately after completing his first run.Hirscher overtook Alexis Pinturault on top of the overall standings. The Frenchman, who beat the Austrian to win the season-opening GS last month, finished 1.87 behind in 11th. Hirscher has 180 points, 56 clear of Pinturault.Hirschers victory also put the Austrian level with Pirmin Zurbriggen on the all-time winners list. Only four skiers have won more races in the 50-year history of the World Cup -- Ingemar Stenmark (86), Hermann Maier (54), Alberto Tomba (50), and Marc Girardelli (46).I felt no pressure at all, Hirscher told The Associated Press. For me personally, I have won already a lot of races and I am done with `I have to win races.Matt, who improved from sixth to second for his first career podium result, said he was more nervous for my first run than for my second as I knew by then that everything was OK. He described being on the podium as an amazing feeling.I made a big step in the summer physically and mentally and the goals were top-10 results and now with the first race podium, its amazing, he said.Marco Schwarz, who trailed Hirscher by just 0.21 after the first run, slid off the course and didnt finish his final run, but another Austrian, Manuel Feller, took fifth.Austrias slalom team lost several big names as Benjamin Raich, Mario Matt and Reinfried Herbst all retired in the past two seasons. But Hirscher said the many young and upcoming talents on the team help him to further improve.Its perfect in training, said Hirscher, who has won 19 slaloms in his career. It wasnt easy for me in the beginning but the young guys really give me motivation. Thats truly super.Hirscher didnt want to give his huge winning margin too much meaning as his main rival from last season, Henrik Kristoffersen, skipped the race.One guy was missing, the fastest from last year. But it was a great race, Hirscher said.Kristoffersen, who won six slaloms last year to claim the discipline title, sat out the race amid a dispute with the Norwegian ski federation over sponsorship rights. The federations rules wont allow Kristoffersen to sign a personal sponsor for his helmet.Hirscher said its pretty bad that ... the fastest slalom skier of the last season isnt competing now and added that he hopes they can find a solution.Hopefully hes back in the next races because I have to see how close I can get to his pace, he said.Britains Dave Ryding, who was fourth after the opening run, dropped to sixth for his career-best result. And the winner of the final slalom of last season, Andre Myhrer of Sweden, failed to qualify for the second leg after he skied out of the course halfway through his run.Tough conditions included temperatures of about 18 F (minus 8 C) and clouds hanging low over the course. Several racers complained about their goggles freezing up during their runs.The mens World Cup continues in Lake Louise, Alberta, with a downhill and a super-G on Nov. 26-27.Custom Los Angeles Angels Nike Jerseys . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. Custom Washington Nationals Nike Jerseys .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. https://www.custombaseballnikejerseys.com/?tag=custom-tampa-bay-rays-nike-jerseys . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Custom Oakland Athletics Nike Jerseys . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Custom Pittsburgh Pirates Nike Jerseys . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race.In another life, Leilani Latu wouldve been just another big dog.But ahead of Sundays NRL elimination final against Canterbury, Latu will be Penriths biggest cat in a Moore Park cage full of the baddest canines out of Belmore.Ahead of his first game against his former club, the Panthers prop credits the Bulldogs for a breakout season that finally showed why many rated Latu a better prospect than David Klemmer.So impressive has the 23-year-old been at the foot of the mountains this year that he became just one of five players across the league to be handed a contract until the end of the 2020 season.And he owes most of it down to his old coaches.Everything that you see me do for Penrith, Ive learnt from the Bulldogs, especially from Jim Dymock as well, being a former ball-playing forward, Latu told AAP.Its just a credit to the program and the system theyre doing over there.Theres some big bodies over there but with the help of (assistant coach) Kelly Egan and Dymock that aare training them over there, theyre very skilful as well.ddddddddddddLatu came through a stacked Bulldogs juniors side that a string of NRL graduates, including current Bulldogs Klemmer and halfback Moses Mbye.We were all part of the originals from Harold Matts and SG Ball, Latu said.However a series of injuries, including major foot, knee and shoulder surgery, stunted Latus development and it appeared as though he would be another prospect to fall through the cracks.He played no more than a dozen games in the under-20s, and remembered thinking his career was over before it began when he was told he was free to sniff offers outside the kennel at Canterbury.At the time, no clubs were interested in me, he recalled.But then I got a phone call from Phil Gould one day and he just said I see the potential in you and I want you to come play for us. 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